These are the 20 defense companies donating the most money to American politicians

Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman all recently received contracts to develop a laser weapon for US fighter jets.

The three defense companies have also donated more money in the 2018 election cycle than any other company in the industry, according to a new analysis from the Center for Responsible Politics, which draws on the Federal Election Commission's latest political-candidate-contribution report.

The Center for Responsive Politics' numbers include all donor contributions to outside groups and political action committees, as well as individuals giving over $200.

In many cases, it notes, donations don't come from the firms themselves but rather from their PACs, employees or owners, or those individuals' immediate families.

20. DynCorp International.

DynCorp International is a Virginia-based company that provides all kinds of training, intelligence, and aviation services for the military, including maintenance for the AH-64 Apache program.

Thus far in the election cycle, 52.1% of DynCorp's contributions have gone to Democrats, and some of the largestrecipients in Congress have been Democratic Rep. Anthony Brown and Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich.

Dyncorp has also been accused of bilking the federal government out of millions of dollars between 2004 and 2008 for their work in the Iraq War.

Dyncorp didn't donate any money to candidates in the election cycles immediately before and after the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Its first contributions came in the 2006 election cycle and increased in 2008.

19. Cobham Management Services.

Cobham Management Services is a British company that manufactures a variety of technology for the military and even the refueling system for the KC-46.

Just over 63% of it contributions thus far have gone to Republicans, and some of the largestrecipients are Republican Reps. John Carter, Charlie Dent, and Duncan Hunter and Democratic Rep. Pete Visclosky.

14. SAIC.

SAIC is another Virginia-based technology company that was contracted last year to help plan and operate the Defense Department's information networks, and, at times, conduct military cyberspace operations.

Thus far, 64.8% of its contributions have gone to Republicans, and some of the largestrecipients have been Republican Rep. Mac Thornberry, who is the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Republican Rep. Robert Aderholt.

Other major recipients include Democratic Rep. Pete Visclosky as well as Rep. Gerry Connolly and Sen. Tim Kaine, both Virginia Democrats.

13. L3 Technologies.

Based in New York, L3 Technologies provides communication and electronic systems for the military and recently received a contract to support the US Army’s Apache Manned/Unmanned Teaming — eXpanded Capabilities (MUMT-X) helicopter program.

Thus far, 66.4.% of its contributions have gone to Republicans, and some of the largestrecipients have been Republican Reps. Ken Calvert and John Lee Ratcliffe and Democratic Sen. Pete Visclosky.

12. Leidos Inc.

U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class H. Dwain Willis.

Contributions: $273,192.

Leidos Inc. is a Virginia-based technology company that, among other things, provides command-and-control software and planning systems for the military and intelligence community.

Thus far, 63.6% of its contributions have gone to Republicans, and some of the largestrecipients have been Republican Reps. Mac Thornberry and Rodney Frelinghuysen.

11. Honeywell International.

Based in New Jersey, Honeywell International invents and manufactures a lot of technology, including the T-55 turboshaft engine for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

So far in the 2018 election cycle, 52.7% of its contributions have gone to Republicans.

In the 2016 election cycle, Honewell International gave $38,104 to Hillary Clinton and $12,624 to Donald Trump. Other major 2016 recipients were Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Ron Johnson and even Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders.

10. Huntington Ingalls Industries.

The US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain in the Philippine Sea.Thomson Reuters

7. United Technologies.

Based in Connecticut, United Technologies owns Pratt & Whitney, which makes a lot of combat-aircraft engines, including the propulsion system for the F-35 Lightning II.

Thus far, 50.3% of its contributions have gone to Republicans, and some of its largestrecipients have been Sen. Christopher Murphy and Rep. Elizabeth Etsy, both Democrats from Connecticut, and Republican Sen. Jeff Flake.

6. Harris Corp.

Harris Corp

Contributions: $460,775.

Harris Corp. is based in Florida and provides a lot of tactical communications, avionics, and electronic warfare, among other things, including the Falcon radios seen above.

Thus far, 50.4% of its contributions have gone to Republicans, and some of its largestrecipients have been Republican Reps. Jim Banks, Liz Cheney, and Mario Balart-Diaz.

5. Raytheon Co.

Based in New Jersey, Raytheon Co. makes everything from command-and-control systems to missile-defense systems and precision weapons, like the TOW missile system seen above.

Thus far in the 2018 election cycle, 61.2% of its contributions have gone to Republicans.

In the 2016 cycle, its largest recipients were Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as well as Republican Sens. John McCain and Ted Cruz.

4. General Dynamics.

General Dynamics

Contributions: $821,144.

Virginia-based General Dynamics makes a variety of combat aircraft, land vehicles, and ships, including the Littoral Combat Ship seen above.

Thus far in the 2018 election cycle, 59.8% of its contributions have gone to Republicans.

In the 2016 cycle, it donated to both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

3. Boeing Co.

Screenshot/Twitter via @PacificCommand

Contributions: $1,159,645.

Based in Chicago, Boeing designs all kinds of private and military aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet seen above.

Thus far in the 2018 election cycle, 62.4% of its contributions have gone to Republicans.

In the 2016 cycle, it donated heavily to Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump as well as Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders and Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

2. Lockheed Martin.

US Air Force

Contributions: $1,342,248.

In 2016, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin received $43.4 billion in federal contracts, the most of any US defense contractor. It manufactures all kinds of combat aircraft, naval systems, missiles, unmanned systems, and more. It was also recently contracted to develop a laser for US fighter jets.

In the 2018 election cycle thus far, 66.1% of its contributions have gone to Republicans.